Anti-aging Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Brows and Body | Microblading Brows & Cosmetics in Mesa, Arizona

Quick NavigationThe Best Glycolic Acid Face Wash Products #1. Overview of Jan Marini Skin Research Bioglycolic Face Cleanser Why it works:How to use it:#2. Overview of iS Clinical Cleansing Complex Why it works:How to use it:#3. Anthony Glycolic Facial Cleanser Why it works:How to use it:#4. Overview of Nu Derm Exfoderm & Exfoderm Forte Why it works:How to use it:#5. DDF Glycolic 5% Exfoliating Wash Why it works:How to use it:Other Tips to Consider when Buying a Glyolic Acid Face Wash #1. Watch for the concentration. #2. Does the product contain other ingredients? #3. Do you have sensitive skin? #4. Are you more interested in looking younger or anti-aging? #5. Do you suffer from acne or oil production? Back to you

What is Active Serum (more detail)?

What makes active serum so special?

When it comes to facial products the best facial products often are plant based as opposed to synthetic based and that’s exactly what active serum is.

It’s really a combination of special plant based products that naturally help improve the quality of your skin.

These plant based products are effective at brightening the skin and complexion as well as controlling acne.

Most people will see a significant difference in using this product in as little time as 4 weeks (of daily use).

Active serum is best classified as an “anti-aging” product because, while it helps several areas, its main focus is to improve the general quality of the skin.

In addition to improving the skin you may also notice (this varies from person to person) an improvement in your complexion, a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, a reduction in break outs, and a fading of age or dark spots on your face.

Main ingredients

These benefits are produced in large part due to 4 main botanical ingredients:

Sugar cane extract (a natural source of glycolic acid) –> Glycolic acid helps exfoliate the skin and slough off dead skin cells making the skin look fresh and new
White willow bark extract (a natural source of salicylic acid) –> Salycylic acid helps renew the skin and reduce the size of your pores
Bilberry extract (a natural source of lactic acid) –> Lactic acid helps nourish and moisturize the skin and prevent breakouts
Arbutin & Mushroom extract (natural skin lighteners and brighteners) –> These products naturally inhibit melanin in your cells to reduce hyperpigmentation and even out the color of the skin

You will notice that some products contain the synthetic version of Glycolic acid or salicylic acid and these synthetic version can have more dramatic and harsh effects on the skin (depending on the concentration).

The advantage to using botanical version is that they tend to be less irritating to the skin but still provide much of the same benefit.

Side Effects

Does active serum have any negative side effects?

It is true that most people will not experience any issues using this serum some people may have irritation, redness or dryness with daily use.

This is not a reason to necessarily stop using the product!

Instead you may just need to drop back down to every other day use until your body becomes “accustomed” to the serum.

Some people may also experience slight tingling with daily application and this is completely normal!

Again, this is not an indication to stop using the serum.

Because it contains plant based formulas of products it tends to be well tolerated.

Information Before you Buy

If you are interested in purchasing iS clinical active serum please see all of the information below:

Frequently asked questions:

Does active serum have paraben in it?

No! Active serum is a paraben-free product.

Does this product contain retinol?

No! Active serum doe snot contain retinol.

This means it can be used in conjunction with retinol containing products (both over the counter and prescription retinol products).

You can read more about retinol here.

How many ounces is in each bottle?

You can get active serum in 0.5 ounce and 1.0 ounce bottles.

It’s a better deal to get the 1.0 ounce bottle so I would recommend that.

If you aren’t sure if active serum will work for you then you can purchase your first bottle at 0.5 ounce and then buy the 1.0 ounce bottle for future purchases if it works for you.

How long will the product last?

You only need to use 1-3 drops per day (depending on the surface area of your face) because of this the bottle will last 2-4 months.

You can also make the bottle last longer by applying the serum to the places that you have issues with.

For instance:

If you have age spots on your cheeks, then you can only apply 1 drop to this area (which will make the bottle last up to 6 months or more).

How often do I need to use it?

It is recommended that you use this product every day if you tolerate it (preferably after cleansing the face).

Is it produced in America?

Yes! Active serum is produced in California.

Is tingling normal when I put it on my face?

Yes! Some tingling is normal and is caused by the concoction of botanical ingredients in the product.

The tingling may fade over time.

Why does the color vary from bottle to bottle?

The color of the serum may change due to the harvesting of the plants and the time of the year that they are harvested.

A slight change in the color is not an indication that you have purchased a poor quality product and may simply be caused by the different dates in which the botanical ingredients were harvested.

This is normal and the product will still work.

Can the active serum be used by itself or do I need to use it with other products?

Active serum can be used by itself or in conjunction with other products.

It’s really meant to be used as an addition to a 3 step skin care combination: cleanser, toner and moisturizer.

If you already have a skin care line in place then you can simply add it to your existing regimen.

If you aren’t familiar with basic cleansers or toners you can read more here.

What is the difference between Active serum and Pro heal?

Both products can be used for anti-aging purposes but the pro-heal contains different ingredients as well as 15% Vitamin C serum.

Vitamin C serum has many benefits for the skin and can be added as part of a regimen and even used in conjunction with active serum.

If you are interested in learning more about vitamin C serum I recommend you read this post.

Before and After Pictures

From the manufacturer:

Finals Thoughts

Is Clinical Active serum is a great addition to an existing skin care regimen or if used by itself.

Active serum works so well because of its botanical and plant based ingredients and naturally concurring sources of powerful skin care ingredients.

If you decide to use active serum make sure you purchase it from a reliable source!

Now I want to hear from you:

Have you used active serum before?

Did it work for you?

Why or why not?

Leave your comments below!

The topc glycolic acid face wash products

The Top Glycolic Acid Face Wash Products for Amazing Exfoliation

Glycolic acid can help naturally exfoliate your skin, leave your skin looking refreshed and trigger changes in the dermis to even make you look younger.

All of these benefits stem from the alpha hydroxy acid known as glycolic acid and you can get all of these benefits with certain washes.

Learn how to determine WHICH products are worth it and which aren’t in this glycolic acid face wash guide:

More…

Why you Want Glycolic Acid in your Face Wash

Chances are high that you have already used some form of glycolic acid in your face washes without even knowing it!

And don’t let the acid part of glycolic acid scare you, because in this sense it is extremely helpful for your skin.

Glycolic acid is part of a family of acids known as alpha hydroxy acids but which includes acids like lactic acid, glycolic acid, malic acid and others.

What’s important here is that these acids have extremely beneficial effects on your skin.

Studies have been done to determine the exact benefits of these acids and have shown that glycolic acid and lactic acid tend to provide the MOST benefit with the LEAST amount of harm.

What do I mean by harm?

Well, because of the special properties which these alpha hydroxy acids possess they can cause some irritation, redness or swelling in certain people.

It turns out that glycolic acid (along with lactic acid) is probably the BEST tolerated while still providing you with extreme benefits.

What kind of benefits are we talking about?

#1. For starters glycolic acid has been shown to help reduce acne scars:

Studies have shown that up to 45% of people who use glycolic acid notice an improvement in acne scars!

You can see from the graph that almost everyone (except around 7% of people) noticed some kind of benefit in their acne scars ranging from mild improvement to very good improvement.

This type of improvement is amazing when you consider that the medical community thinks a prescription drug is good if it can help even 10% of people.

What’s even more amazing is that glycolic acid can be purchased over the counter in a cleanser (but you have to make sure you get a high enough concentration) and used at home.

Another important benefit is that you can get even better results if you increase the concentration of glycolic acid and use it as a chemical peel once a week.

#2. Glycolic acid helps reduce hyperpigmentation and even skin tone.

In addition to reducing acne scars, glycolic acid has been shown to improve pigmentary lesions and reduce hyperpigmentation.

You can think of hyperpigmentation as changes to your skin color and tone that occur due to a variety of reasons including: acne, inflammation, rosacea, photodamage, etc.

Studies have shown that over 50% of people who use glycolic acid noticed “good improvement” in their skin tone!

Again, we aren’t talking about a small number here – this is a HUGE improvement.

But we aren’t done yet:

Glycolic acid also has other benefits, one of the most important is its ability to exfoliate the skin.

Start around age 30-35 we naturally lose the ability to exfoliate our skin cells.

This leads to a “dulling” of the skin unless you either mechanically or chemically remove these skin cells.

Removing the excess skin cells in the epidermis leaves your skin looking refreshed and new and is REQUIRED if you want healthy and beautiful skin.

The entire list of glycolic acid benefits include:

Naturally exfoliates the upper layers of the epidermis leaving your skin looking fresh and clean
Helps reduce oil and sebum production
Helps promote collagen production and reduces fine lines and wrinkles
Helps directly treat acne, black heads and pimples by reducing oil production
Helps treat and prevent hormonal acne (especially if caused by PCOS or testosterone/androgens)

But, in order to get these benefits you must be using the right concentration and dose of glycolic acid.

Purchasing a cheap and watered down glycolic acid will NOT lead to the desired results.

Below I will discuss the highest quality products that contain glycolic acid and other ingredients to naturally help improve your skin.

The Best Glycolic Acid Face Wash Products

You have two ways that you can use glycolic acid:

#1. Daily application with lower concentrations (in face wash, toners and other facial products)

#2. Once a week or once a month application in higher concentrations in chemical peels.

In my opinion the best way to use glycolic acid is in small concentrations more frequently (preferably every day or 3-4x per week).

Why?

Because higher concentrations like those found in chemical peels can potentially lead to peeling and irritation in certain people.

The beautiful part is that you can really do both.

You can start with a daily facial cleanser and then if you want further results you can purchase higher concentrations of glycolic acid and do a 5 minute chemical peel once a week.

But for the purposes of this article we are going to focus on the best daily facial products that exist:

#1. Overview of Jan Marini Skin Research Bioglycolic Face Cleanser

Overall Quality

Contains high concentrations of glycolic acid with non irritating inactive ingredients

Price

Moderate price range, but worth the splurge

Why I Love it

Works on a variety of skin types: normal, dry, oily, acne prone and sensitive

Why it works:

Contains: glycolic acid (to promote exfoliation and skin regeneration) and Sorbitol (which acts as a natural moisturizer)
Adequate concentrations of glycolic acid combined with non irritating inactive ingredients help soothe the skin while gently exfoliating.

How to use it:

Gentle massage a small amount (dime size) into damp skin both morning and night.
Start with once a day application for 7 days to make sure you tolerate the glyolic acid before using twice per day (morning and night)

This is my preferred brand if you don’t know where to start. If you have oily skin, mature skin or aged skin you may need a stronger concentration.

#2. Overview of iS Clinical Cleansing Complex

Why it works:

Ingredients include: Willow bark extract(a natural and gentle exfoliator), sugar cane extract(natural and gentle form of glycolic acid to help reduce oil production)
This combination acts to provide your skin with natural forms of both salicylic acid and glycolic acid which help exfoliate the skin, reduce oil production and deep clean your pores without inflammation or irritation.
This product also acts as both a toner and a make up remover which means you can save on other products and not have to risk reacting to these products (remember that a complete skin care line must include a toner).

How to use it:

This cleanser can be used in both the AM and the PM – I usually recommend starting with once a day usage (at night) and increasing to both morning and night if you need more of a boost.
Can be combined with moisturizers but make sure you use the moisturizer AFTER the cleansing complex and only AFTER your skin is completely dry.
I also recommend you combine this with active serum which naturally provides retinol and can seriously ramp up your skin care line. You can read more here.

This product is the best product for those with SENSITIVE skin. If you fall into that category jump straight into this complex because it is very light weight and won’t cause irritation.

#3. Anthony Glycolic Facial Cleanser

Overall Quality

Contains 5% glycolic acid with other anti inflammatory ingredients to nourish your skin

Price

Best price point of all high end glycolic cleansers

Why I Love it

Works best for those with very oily skin (adult onset acne, men, those with lots of black heads and those with acne prone skin)

Why it works:

Contains: Glycolic acid at 4.9% (to promote exfoliation, calendula, chamile and aloe vera (to help provide moisture and nourish the skin) and Vitamin A, C & E (to provide protection and act as anti oxidants to reduce inflammation)
The combination of glycolic acid with anti inflammatory agents like natural vitamins helps to further reduce oil and cool down the skin. These combinations make this facial cleanser perfect for those who suffer from oily or acne prone skin.

How to use it:

Apply a small amount to your hand and massage into your face in circular motions. Repeat daily in both the AM & the PM.
Avoid use if you have sensitive skin (unless no other glycolic acid products are working for you).
For acneic skin should be combined with a toner, retinol and Vitamin C serum for best benefits.

Use this product if you have acne prone skin or skin with lots of oil production.

#4. Overview of Nu Derm Exfoderm & Exfoderm Forte

Overall Quality

Contains a combination of ingredients designed to both moisturize and exfoliate – should be used after cleansing and toning.

Price

Highest price but backed by one of the best brands in the industry

Why I Love it

This product is NOT a facial cleanser but more of a moisturizing exfoliator and really helps for those with wrinkles and heavy skin damage.

Why it works:

Contains alpha hydroxy acids (to promote skin regeneration and turnover), glycolic acid (to promote exfoliation), lactic acids (removes dead skin cells) and caprylic triglycerides (to gently moisturize).
The combination of lactic and glycolic acid makes this moisturizer act more like a cleanser than a true moisturizer, but this extra step may be very beneficial for older more mature skin.

How to use it:

Should be used in the AM (not the PM) and after cleansing, toning and the application of the Clear FX.
This product adds another layer of complexity to the Obagi system but may not be necessary for every person.
This product comes in two forms: Exfoderm Forte and Exfoderm -> the exfoderm forte is designed for people who have oily skin, whereas the exfoderm should be used for those with normal to dry skin types.

Use exfoderm forte if you have oily or acneic skin at baseline.

Use this exfoderm if you have normal to dry skin at baseline.

*Note: This is NOT a facial cleanser but acts more as a moisturizer that ALSO exfoliates. I recommend that you consider using this product if you have mature skin or if your primary goal is younger looking skin or anti-aging.

#5. DDF Glycolic 5% Exfoliating Wash

Overall Quality

High concentration allows for deeper penetration into pores (part of the reason why it’s great for males)

Price

Moderate price point of high end glycolic cleansers but one of the strongest in terms of ability

Why I Love it

Best option for MEN and great for those who tend to need STRONGER products and who don’t have sensitive skin

Why it works:

Contains: Glyolic acid at 5%, Aloe vera (help moisturize the skin and improve skin penetration of glycolic acid), Vitamin E, Zinc & Magnesium (help reduce local inflammation and really reduce oil production)
The combination allows for deep pore cleansing which is why it is better suited for men. Glyolic acid helps exfoliate while zinc and magnesium help reduce oil production to prevent black heads and acne. Can still be used for women who suffer from adult onset acne or menstrual related acne.

How to use it:

Because of the strength this product should only be used once daily. Using this product two times per day may result in changes to skin pH and acid mantle.

Men or women who suffer from hormonal or menstrual related acne should use this product FIRST. Avoid if you have sensitive skin.

Other Tips to Consider when Buying a Glyolic Acid Face Wash

#1. Watch for the concentration.

Remember that not all facial products are created equal.

In general, especially when it comes to facial products, you get what you pay for and you should NOT skimp on spending money on a facial cleanser.

Why?

Because chemicals placed on your skin do get absorbed transdermally and may low quality ingredients may cause issues or prematurely age you!

Glycolic acid cleansers are no different.

I recommend looking for a product with around 5% glycolic acid concentration (assuming you want to use daily).

Any higher concentration should be used for chemical peels only and should not be applied daily.

#2. Does the product contain other ingredients?

Another point worth considering is the synergy of glycolic acid with other active ingredients.

Most skin care products (who know what they are doing) will combine anti inflammatory vitamins like C, E and A to the product to enhance the function of glycolic acid.

Adding other ingredients can help improve the quality and effectiveness of your cleanser.

Does that you mean you NEED to have other ingredients?

Not necessarily.

Especially if your other skin care products contain these ingredients.

Remember, too much of a good thing isn’t always good.

Try to match your skin care regimen so that you don’t overdo it with certain nutrients and vitamins.

#3. Do you have sensitive skin?

If you have sensitive skin make sure to start low and go slow!

Glycolic acid is generally well tolerated but you should use caution if you have sensitive skin.

If you fall into this category I recommend starting with a less frequent dosing schedule – something like every other day or 3-4x per week instead of each day.

It’s possible to have sensitive skin but also suffer from acne and therefore you may need the stronger glycolic acid products.

If you fall into this category just make sure to listen to your skin and don’t overdo it.

You will know that you’ve used too much if you start to develop redness or peeling.

#4. Are you more interested in looking younger or anti-aging?

If you’re looking for younger skin then glycolic acid is perfect for you!

That being said I recommend that you use products that are focused on this outcome.

Why?

Because anti-aging nutrients and vitamins differ from the basic ingredients in skin care lines.

If you are serious about anti-aging then the Obagi products are probably your best bet.

You can learn more about using the Obagi Nu derm system to make your skin look younger here.

#5. Do you suffer from acne or oil production?

Acne, oil production and black heads – these are serious issues and glycolic acid can help.

Just realize that if you want to treat acne with a cleanser you will need a heavy duty cleanser with at least 5% glycolic acid.

Another trick is to find products targeted towards men (like the last product on my list).

Why?

Because these products are meant to be absorbed deep into your pores and contain ingredients like Zinc which reduce androgen influence on your skin cells.

Back to you

Have you been using glycolic acid face wash products?

Are they working for you?

Why or why not?

Leave your comment below so that we can find the BEST products out there!

The Best Gentle Cleanser for Sensitive Skin + 7 Tips for Beautiful Skin

Why The Obagi Blender is the Best Product in the Nu Derm System

The Obagi blender is probably the single best product in the entire Obagi 6 step nu derm system.

The reason is because it can be combined or “blended” with another powerful skin care product known as retinol to effectively BOOST all of the positive effects of the blender.

Learn why the blender is so helpful for your skin, and more importantly, how and where to get it!

More…

What makes the Obagi Blender so special?

The Obagi blender is probably one of, if not the best product, in the entire Obagi nu derm system.

But why is that?

Don’t worry, we are going to talk about using this product by itself (and why you might want to) later on in the post.

But first let’s establish some of the basics:

If you don’t already know about Obagi products (where have you been?) then you need to know a few things.

Obagi is a skin care line that was created by dermatologists and is meant to be sold by health professionals like dermatologists and plastic surgeons.

This means that the Obagi skin care product line is filled with high quality ingredients AND that these products really work.

The Obagi blender is part of a 6 step series known as the Obagi Nu derm 6 step system.

I’ve written about this entire system and which of the 6 products you should incorporate into your daily regimen (and which ones you can skip) in this detailed post.

The Obagi blender is actually called Obagi Nu Derm Blend Fx, but has been nicknamed the “Obagi Blender”, so don’t let that little bit of information confuse you.

It’s also the 5th step in the 6 step series, but it can and should be used even if you don’t use that entire 6 step system!

The reason that it’s nicknamed the blender is because it’s meant to be used and “blended” with another very helpful product called “retinol“.

The combination of these two ingredients create amazing results for your skin that seriously help reverse the aging process and make your skin look 5-10 years younger.

But more on that later…

Can you use Obagi blender alone?

While Obagi certainly wants you to buy their 6 step system, that doesn’t mean that you have to!

Luckily the Obagi blender can be purchased on its own which means you don’t have to buy all 6 products just to get the one you want.

But the question remains:

Who should use the Obagi Blender?

Those with premature signs of aging (wrinkles around the eyes and around the lips)
Those in their 20’s and 30’s who want to PREVENT aging
Those with severe sun damage A.K.A photo damage
Those with sun spots or “age spots”
Those who have discoloration in their skin tone from acne, rashes or dermatitis
Those who want to clear their skin from acne AND improve the texture and quality of their skin
Those with mature skin who want to look younger

If you fall into any of these categories then using the Obagi blender would stand to be helpful for you.

The main reason to use the blender is if you really want to kick your skin care regimen to the next level.

Why?

Because it contains special ingredients that aren’t found in common skin care products like Arbutin (which is a natural skin lightener).

The best part about the blender is that it can easily be added to your current regimen.

If you choose this route make sure you use it only at night and make sure it is the LAST product you put on your skin (after you cleanse, tone and moisturize).

Obagi Blender vs Obagi Clear Fx

If you know about the Nu derm system then you might be aware that in the SAME system is another product called Obagi Clear Fx.

This product is like a miniature Obagi blender but doesn’t quite work as well.

So the question becomes:

Should I use the Blender or Obagi clear?

Well, here is what I recommend:

In most cases just using the Obagi blender is sufficient UNLESS you have mature skin and you have significant sun damage, photo damage, aged skin or sun spots.

Remember that the blender is stronger than the clear fx, which is why the blender should only be used in the evening.

Obagi clear has similar ingredients but they aren’t in the same concentration and this product can be used in the morning and the night.

If you are 50+ years old and want to get serious about your skin, then using the clear and the blender may be your best option.

If you just want to improve your skin regimen and you are in your 20’s, 30’s or 40’s then the blender by itself is probably sufficient.

Obagi clear does contain the natural lightener Arbutin, but it also contains basic anti-oxidants and vitamins designed to cool off the skin in a more natural and softer way.

You can learn more about Obagi clear fx below if you fall into these categories (if not you can skip down to the obagi blender section):

Overview of Nu Derm Clear Fx

Why it works:

Contains Arbutin (natural skin lightening agent), Vitamin C (read more about the amazing benefits of Vitamin C here), Antioxidants (to fight free radicals and prevent skin damage long term) and Vitamin E (promoting proper skin barrier function)
Arbutin prevents melanin production and therefore reduces pigment in the skin, Vitamin C helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and inflammation while vitamin E nourishes the skin.
Special consideration should be given to this formula especially if you have mature skin (those who are more prone to developing sun spots, aging spots and other hyperpigmentation issues)

How to use it:

Should be used in the am and pm and should be used AFTER cleansing and toning -> using a toner will help increase absorption of Vitamin C + Vitamin E + the antioxidants in this formulation.
Can be used if you have dry skin, oily skin, acneic skin, mature skin or sensitive skin.
*Note: Does contain sulfities so if you have a sulfite allergy you should NOT use this product.

Obagi Blender Ingredients

What makes the blender so effective?

Much of this has to do with the ingredients in the product itself.

You can find a list of both the active and inactive ingredients below.

Main & Active ingredients:

Arbutin – This is a natural skin lightener that is as effective as hydroquinone as evening skin tone but doesn’t come with the negative side effects. Arbutin will naturally balance skin colors and skin tone, perfect for people with sun spots, acne or melasma by reducing melanin synthesis in melanocytes.
Lactic Acid – This alpha hydroxy acid helps to naturally boost the exfoliation process while reducing break outs, acne and also helps reduce the signs of aging. It reduces the aging process by stimulating collagen production in the dermis.
Vitamin C – This powerful anti oxidant helps reduce inflammation, stimulates collagen production in the dermis and reduces the signs of aging while nourishing the skin.
Vitamin E – This acts as the base for the product and naturally helps to moisturize the skin, reduce inflammation, keep moisture from escaping your skin and boosts the effectiveness of Vitamin C and other nutrients.

ALL ingredients (including inactive ingredients):

Water
Glycerin
Cetyl Alcohol
Arbutin
TEA-salicylate
Tocopheryl acetate
Lactic acid
Phenyl trimethicore

PPG-2 myristyl ether propionate
Sodium lauryl sulfate
Stearyl alcohol
Tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E)
Ascorbic acid
Saponins
BHT
Disodium EDTA

The blender does NOT come with the Retinol and that is what it is designed to be used with (funny how that works).

You can get my recommended retinol product here.

The benefits of using retinol WITH the blender include:

Boosted effect to anti-aging process
Boosted effect to skin lightening and balancing skin tone and color
Boosted effect to reduce acne and sebum production (oil)
Increased collagen and elastin production in the dermis

How to Get the Best Price for Obagi Blender

One of the problems with Obagi products in the past was that there were many counterfeit and fake products floating around on places like Ebay.

That isn’t the case anymore since amazon signed a contract to provide legitimate Obagi products.

The best way, and the cheapest way, to get Obagi products including the Obagi blender, is by purchasing it through amazon.

The only thing you have to make sure it includes is the ”professional beauty” tag underneath the price.

I only recommend high quality products, so if you ever see me recommend a product you can rest assured that it IS high quality and legitimate.

You can get the Obagi blender here.

Overview of Nu Derm Blend Fx

Why it works:

Ingredients include: Arbutin (designed to naturally help brighten your skin), Lactic acid (to help exfoliate and improve skin texture and pore size), Vitamin C & Vitamin E (to help act as anti-oxidants and further improve skin texture)
This combination helps to naturally brighten your skin while helping to exfoliate the epidermal layer of the skin and provide defense against oxidation and sun damage.
Intended to be “blended” and mixed together with Obagi retinol which will dramatically reduce the signs of aging and improve your skin (Obagi Retinol products do NOT come in the nu derm system and must be purchased separately).

How to use it:

The blender should be used in the PM only – this will enhance results and improve absorption (Retinol products should be used in the pm)
Combine a small amount of blender with Obagi retinol and mix both creams in your hand before applying to your face and neck -> you can also apply the mixture to the back of your hands and upper chest area (anywhere with age spots).
*Note: Not everyone will need BOTH the clear fx and the blend fx as they both have Arbutin (skin brightening agent). You may benefit from using both of these if you have severe hyperpigmentation issues or difficult to treat melasma, age spots or sun damage.

Your turn:

The obagi blender is my favorite product in the Obagi nu derm system.

It helps naturally balance and brighten your skin, and this effect is multiplied if used with a retinol containing product.

Retinol products have been clinically proven to reduce wrinkles and help reverse the aging process!

But now I want to hear from you…

Have you tried the obagi blender before?

If so, did it work for you? Why or why not?

Leave your comment below and I will respond!

How to use Retin A for Wrinkles & Why it Works

Retin A has been clinically proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles in many, many studies.

But in order to get this benefit you must be using it correctly!

That means you need the right type of Retin A at the right dose and concentration.

Learn how to use Retin A for wrinkles in this guide:

More…

Using Retin A to Reduce Wrinkles on your Face

One thing we need to get across right away is that Retin A does indeed work to reduce wrinkles.

In fact it is probably the most well studied and most researched compound and has been proven time and time again to do this in clinical studies.

But what is Retin A and how does it work?

It turns out that Retin A is really just Vitamin A (as the name suggests) in a very specific form that allows your skin to absorb and utilize this nutrient.

One thing you need to realize is that in order for Retin A to reduce your fine lines and wrinkles you need to be using the right type of Retin A in the right dosage and for the right length of time.

What’s even more interesting is that until recently Retin A was only available through a prescription from your Doctor.

Previously if you wanted to get the benefit of Retin A that meant going to your dermatologist or plastic surgeon and asking for Retin A and hoping that your doctor knew how to use it.

Nowadays you can get high quality Retin A over the counter which allows for the same same (in most cases better results) and removes most of the impurities and inactive ingredients found in pharmaceutical tretinoin preparations.

We will talk about how to use Retin A, where to get it and what strength you need, but first we need to show that it does indeed work!

Retin A before and After photos

Below you will find before and after pictures of people who used Retinol products.

Retinol is a variation of Retin A and therefore a variation of Vitamin A.

The best part about Retinol is that you can get the same results using retinol as you can with Retin A but the difference is you don’t get the redness or dry skin that usually accompanies Retin A.

So in essence you get all of the benefits without the negative side effects.

The first picture is a before and after picture showing how Retinol and Retin a.

You can see the difference over 24 weeks and includes:

Reduction in scarring and uneven texture (Retin A and retinol have been proven to do this)
Reduction in uneven pigmentation
Smoother surface and texture to the skin
Reduced wrinkles surrounding the eyes and peri-orbital area
Reduction in poor size and sebum production (noticeable on the nose area)

You can see another before and after on more aged skin and this really outlines the improvement that can be seen around the eyes (crows feet).

You can see at least a 60-70% reduction in wrinkles around the eye area, again over a period of 24 weeks.

Both of these before and after pictures were done using Obagi retinol serum which is available over the counter and at a pharmaceutical concentration to provide amazing results (more info below).

How to use Retin A properly & What strength to start out on

One of the challenges of using Retin A and retinol is that Vitamin A is no joke for your skin.

What this means is that a strong concentration can leave your skin dry and flaky, and a weak concentration will not have the desired effect that you are looking for.

This means that you need to understand how to properly titrate your retin a to match your skin.

Because this is a big problem I always recommend using Retinol over prescription Retin A.

This allows you to control your concentration better and allows you simply change your strength much easier than using a true prescription.

For instance:

If you find that your prescription tretinoin or retin a is too strong then you will have to reschedule another appiontment to reduce the concentration – which will cost you more time and money.

A better approach is to use retinol which you can start out low and titrate up as you know your body tolerates it.

I recommend the following guidelines for using Retin A and Retinol…

Who should start out using Retinol 0.5% strength:

Those with very sensitive skin
Those who have never used Retin A or Retinol products in the past
Those who have tried Retin A or tretinoin and have reacted with redness or flaky skin or a rash

Who should start out using Retinol 1.0% strength:

Those people who don’t suffer from sensitive skin (you have tried facial products in the past and you don’t have issues with redness or rashes)
Those people who have tried retinol in the past but want even better results
Those people who have extremely photodamaged skin
Those who are older than 40 years old and want to prevent further wrinkles or sun damage

Instructions for using Retin A:

When in doubt always start at a low concentration and try to find products that contain Retinol in it over Retin A or other Vitamin A derivatives
Retin A should always be applied in the evening
If you use Retin A make sure you avoid direct sun light as Vitamin A increases your skin turn over and makes your skin more sensitive to the sun
Apply only a small amount to provide a light “cover” to your skin (don’t put a thick layer on, a little goes a long way)
If you are sensitive to the lowest concentration then try applying it every other day or every third day – this will help reduce any sensitivity
Over time you will gain a tolerance and may need to increase the concentration of your Retin A or Retinol
Be patient! It may take up to 6-8 weeks of daily use for you to see a big difference, but if it helps you can take before and after pictures to really see the difference (sometimes it’s hard to notice small changes when you look at your face every day)
Find a high quality product that does not contain poor inactive ingredients – this will prevent you from reacting negatively to the serum/cream

The Best Retin A serums and products

Once you’ve determined you’re ready to start using Retin A the next step is to find a high quality product to get you the results you are looking for.

My recommendation is to start with high quality over the counter products like Obagi (more info on why below).

Obagi is a brand that was designed for plastic surgeons and dermatologists and so it contains pharmaceutical grade ingredients and concentrations.

Not only this, but it’s also been studied and used effectively by many practices around the US.

In addition Obagi has also gone through several of their own internal studies which show impressive results.

After 4 weeks of use people noticed the following:

84% said their skin looked and felt smoother
78% said their face felt rejuvinated
81% said their face appeared firmer
78% said their skin improved in terms of clarity (it looked more clear)
81% said they were satisfied with the overall results of the product

These results are actually VERY impressive when you consider that every person reading this has a different skin type and complexion.

That means that in a perfect world your retin a product or retinol product would be specifically designed to YOUR skin.

Obviously we can’t do that, but with a success rate of about 8 in 10 the odds are in your favor with this product – and this is why it’s one of my favorites.

If you don’t know where to start, or want to start with a high quality product I recommend starting with the Obagi Retinol products below:

Obagi Retinol 0.5 & 1.0 Review

Overall rating:

Overall Quality

Very high quality product that comes in different concentrations (0.5% and 1.0%)

Price

Higher price but comparable when compared to prescription tretinoin & retin a

Why I Love it

Works very well with about a 80%-90% success rate among all people

Who should use it:

Ingredients:

Anyone looking to have younger looking skin (this is one of the best anti-aging skin care products)
People with mild to moderate acne
People looking to improve their skin texture
People (especially women) with early signs of wrinkles around the eyes or around the corners of the mouth
People with oily skin looking to reduce sebum production
People also undergoing laser therapies, microdermabrasion, microneedling or microdermabrasion

Retinol 0.5% or 1.0% (depending on which concentration and strength you choose)
Green tea extract (camellia sinensis)
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)

How to use it:

Why it works

Once a day apply a pearl sized amount to your fingers then spread evening throughout your entire face and neck (avoid your eyes)
Make sure to apply product in the evening
If you experience dryness, redness or flaking then use every other day until your skin acclimates

Retinol increases cell turnover and directly stimulates collagen and elastin production in the dermis which results in a reduction in wrinkles. In addition this product contains 20% Vitamin C which further promotes collagen production and stimulates growth in the skin to even skin tones.

Recommended product:

Obagi 0.5% (start here if you’ve never used Retinol products before)

Obagi 1.0% (start here if you have used retinol products in the past and/or you don’t have sensitive skin)

Retin A Prescription vs OTC products

One question I get a lot is something like this:

Should I use prescription Retin A from my Doctor or should I use an over the counter Retinol product?

The answer is not as simple as it might seem and my general recommendation is to prefer over the counter products over prescription products and here’s why:

When you get a prescription for Tretinoin (AKA Retin A) you are getting a high quality concentration of Vitamin A, the only problem is that this product is formulated by pharmacies and not companies that focus on skin care.

What this means to you is that your product contains lots of inactive ingredients and fillers (alcohol derivatives, etc.) to try and increase the absorption of the Vitamin A.

Unfortunately these inactive fillers often lead to skin reactions, rashes and other undesirable effects.

When you purchase an over the counter retinol product you are getting the high quality Vitamin A derivative but you are also getting a high quality serum or cream that contains MINIMAL inactive ingredients.

These companies also formulate their retinol with other precious and valuable skin care ingredients like Vitamin C and green tea which act as anti inflammatory agents and boost the effectiveness of the existing Retinol.

This means over the counter retinol products cause less side effects like rashes, bumps or flaky skin.

This makes over the counter products a better fit for most people.

My recommendation is to start with the product mentioned above (at a small dose) and work yourself up in your dosage until you get your desired results – this will only take about 4-8 weeks.

Can you use Retin A around your eyes and around your mouth?

The beautiful part about Retin a is that it can be used pretty much anywhere on your skin.

I personally know people who use it on their chest and on the back of their hands (these are both areas that usually suffer from heavy sun damage).

That means you can also use it around your mouth and around your eyes!

It’s important to realize though that the skin around your eyes is very sensitive and VERY thin.

Some people need to use a higher concentration of Retin A everywhere else, but they may need to use a lower concentration right around their eyes.

It should also go without saying, but please don’t put the Retin A IN your eyes!

You can also use Retin A around your mouth and that shouldn’t cause any issues.

If you notice any dry skin just make sure to apply it every other day instead of daily and you will still get great results.

Will Retin A work for Forehead wrinkles?

Retin A will definitely help with your forehead wrinkles, but you need to understand what that means.

Most people (who use a high quality Retin A product for a long enough time) will experience about a 50-70% reduction in wrinkles.

This means that you will still have SOME wrinkles but the majority will be reduced.

You can combine your retinol with other products like Vitamin C serum or microneedling to enhance your results and reduce wrinkles even further!

How long do I have to use Retin A before I see results?

Most people start to see results in as little as 4 weeks, but it may take as much as 8 weeks for all of the results to set in.

This is because it takes time for your skin to turn over and to stimulate both collagen and elastin production.

The important part is to STICK WITH IT while you wait!

Trust the process and trust your product and you will see your results.

Over to you!

The bottom line is that Retin A can definitely help reduce your wrinkles, but it must be used correctly and at a high enough dose.

When looking for products make sure you find a high quality product that contains other ingredients like Vitamin A (these help boost retinol effects).

My recommendation is to stick with the over the counter brands whenever possible.

Are you using Tretinion, Retin A or Retinol?

Is it help with your wrinkles?

Leave your comment below!

Obagi Nu Derm Reviews – Should you use this 6 Step System?

Is the Obagi nu derm system really as good as everybody says?

If you didn’t already know, the Obagi nu derm system is a high quality medical grade skin care system designed to completely transform your skin – but does it live up to the height?

In this Obagu nu derm review I will walk you through each step to help determine IF you should use this system and how to tailor it specifically to your skin.

Let’s jump in:

More…

The Obagi 6 Step Nu Derm System – How & Why it Works

Does the Obagi nu derm system actually work?

The answer is a resounding YES.

Why?

Well for many reasons, but one of the more important reasons is because it is a medical grade skin care system.

That means it was designed by medical professions (Dermatologists) and it also means that it contains prescription strength and pharmaceutical quality ingredients.

This means you can’t get Obagi products at a convenience store or just anywhere.

In order to get these products it needs to be supplied from someone who has a medical license like a plastic surgeon or a cosmetic dermatologist.

What you need to realize is that over the counter products (even if they contain the same type of ingredients) can’t contain the same amount or percentage that Obagi products do.

Take for instance Retinol.

Over the counter retinol (or retin-a) products, by law, can only contain a certain amount of retinol – which makes the product less effective.

Compare this to Obagi products which can contain pharmaceutical concentrations of the same ingredient.

What does this mean?

It means that your skin care products are high quality and WILL work better.

The Obagi nu derm system was designed as a 6 step system to combat the aging process and to seriously revamp and renew your existing skin.

It contains a combination of products meant to be layered on one another for maximum benefit.

But just because it is a 6 step system doesn’t mean you necessarily need to use the ENTIRE system to get optimal results.

It also doesn’t mean you can’t mix and match the best Obagi products with other high quality skin care products!

Let’s talk about each of the Obagi nu derm steps to help you determine which ones would be most beneficial for YOUR skin.

But first, some pros and cons about the Obagi nu derm 6 step system (what I like and don’t like about it):

PROS

Contains very high quality ingredients at pharmaceutical strengths
Can be purchased as individual products to mix and match products for your skin
2 separate systems designed to treat dry skin and oily skin
Has been tested on thousands of patients and has been shown to work
Has clinical studies to prove the effectiveness of the ingredients

CONS

Not everyone needs ALL 6 steps
Must be purchased from a medical professional which can increase price
Does not come with a Vitamin C serum or a Retinol containing product (which are essential to a complete skin care set)

The Obagi nu derm system isn’t perfect, but it’s definitely one of the better skin care lines available – and with the right knowledge you can create your own personal product line that will give you amazing results.

Let’s go over the entire system product by product so you understand what each one does and how it works…

Step #1: Nu Derm Foaming Gel

The 6 step system starts with this foaming gel.

The whole goal of the foaming gel is to act as a gentle cleanser for the skin.

A cleanser is a necessity for any skin care regimen because it is required to help exfoliate the skin and prepare the skin for the next steps.

Exfoliation is necessary because as we age (especially women) the natural aging process of the skin makes it so that your skin cells do not slough off as easily as before.

This leads to “stacking” of dead skin cells in the stratus corneum (the superficial part of the epidermis) which makes your skin look dull.

Exfoliation helps bring brightness to the skin as you remove dead skin cells and also remove the barrier of skin cells to help your skin naturally absorb the next steps.

Remember that women over age 30 start to experience a reduction in their ability to exfoliate!

Overview of Nu Derm Foaming Gel

Why it works:

Contains aloe vera, amino acids, apricot kernel oil and panthenol (Vitamin B3) to help nourish the skin
Panthenol has been shown to increase skin integrity and reduce water loss throughout the day
Helps slough off dead skin cells to naturally exfoliate the higher epidermal layers
Improves absorption of the next steps by preparing the skin and opening pores
Can also be used to safely remove makeup
Can be used on sensitive skin

How to use it:

Use in the morning and night -> apply a small amount of the gel to your face
The foaming gel should be used for people who tend to have oily skin or who are more prone to developing acne (acneic skin).
The gentle cleanser should be used for people with dry to normal skin or for those with very sensitive skin (those who react to skin care products).
Both products are used for the same purpose: to cleanse the skin – but you should use the product designed for your complexion and oil product using the guide below.

Use the foaming gel if you have oily skin or skin prone to developing acne.

Use the gentle cleanser if you have normal to dry skin.

Step #2: Nu Derm Toner

The second step in this 6 step system is the Toner.

Regardless of your skin type (dry or oily skin) you should be using SOME sort of product acting as a toner.

What does the toner do for you?

It helps to restore normal pH levels to your skin and prepares your skin for the next step in the 6 step regimen.

It does this by opening your pores and restoring the acid mantle to your skin.

This mantle acts as a permeable barrier so that only certain nutrients can get in and so that moisture cannot escape.

It also helps remove dead skin cells so it acts as an exfoliator (though less than other steps).

Your toner should always be used after your cleanser!

Overview of Nu Derm Toner

Why it works:

Contains Witch hazel (astrigent), sage leaf extract, flower extracts, panthenol (Vitamin B3), aloe vera and hyaluronic acid
These ingredients help promote moisture (one of the downsides to harsh toners is that they promote dryness and can create flaking) while still restoring normal pH balance to the epidermal layers of the skin
Witch hazel acts as an anti-inflammatory agent which protects against cellular damage
Ingredients help to open your pores up and increase absorption of nutrients in the other products to follow

How to use it:

Your toner should ALWAYS be used after your cleanse (to restore pH balance)
If you choose to use the cleanser twice per day then you should use the toner twice per day (immediately after cleansing)
Sensitive patients should only cleanse and tone once per day (usually in the evening)
Toner should be used regardless of skin type (oily skin, normal skin, combination skin, hyperpigmented skin and mature skin)

Step #3: Nu Derm Clear Fx

The third step in this 6 step system is the Nu Derm clear Fx.

The nu derm clear fx has some very special benefits that are worth mentioning here.

First it contains a special ingredient (arbutin) which acts as a skin lightening agent.

This is really important because it can help reduce the appearance of freckles, skin changes from sun damage (sun spots), age spots and skin hyperpigmentation syndromes like melasma.

It helps to naturally restore an even skin tone to your entire face and neck area, which makes your skin look blended, younger and smooth.

Another important aspect worth mentioning is that this formula can be used on the chest (for sun spots) or even on the back of your hands (for age spots).

Arbutin is a more gentle version to the more harsh hydroquinone (which is a prescription strength skin bleaching agent).

Arbutin helps to naturally reduce pigmentation in the melanin in the basal layers of your skin.

The obagi nu derm contains 7% arbutin.

But note, if you have serious skin hyperpigmentation issues then you may need to use hydroquinone for best results (though this is usually not necessary).

Overview of Nu Derm Clear Fx

Why it works:

Contains Arbutin (natural skin lightening agent), Vitamin C (read more about the amazing benefits of Vitamin C here), Antioxidants (to fight free radicals and prevent skin damage long term) and Vitamin E (promoting proper skin barrier function)
Arbutin prevents melanin production and therefore reduces pigment in the skin, Vitamin C helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and inflammation while vitamin E nourishes the skin.
Special consideration should be given to this formula especially if you have mature skin (those who are more prone to developing sun spots, aging spots and other hyperpigmentation issues)

How to use it:

Should be used in the am and pm and should be used AFTER cleansing and toning -> using a toner will help increase absorption of Vitamin C + Vitamin E + the antioxidants in this formulation.
Can be used if you have dry skin, oily skin, acneic skin, mature skin or sensitive skin
*Note: Does contain sulfities so if you have a sulfite allergy you should NOT use this product.

Step #4: Nu Derm Exfoderm Forte

The exfoderm system is a combination of a moisturizing lotion which simultaneously acts as an exfoliator.

There are actually 2 different products, so don’t let that confuse you.

The exfoderm forte is desginged specifically for those with oily skin – which means that this moisturizer is much lighter.

The exfoderm is designed for those with dry to normal skin – you should use this product basically if you have any skin type that is NOT oily.

This particular product is designed to help shed excess dead skin cells and promote regeneration of newer skin cells in the basal membrane of the epidermis.

The natural exfoliating process promotes brighter and healthier skin.

This is obviously important because as you age your ability to exfoliate diminishes greatly – which means you have more dead skin cells that just don’t want to be exfoliated.

But because there are already other steps designed to exfoliate your skin cells in the system, this particular step may be not necessary unless you have mature skin (meaning you have early signs of aging or your are post menopausal).

Overview of Nu Derm Exfoderm & Exfoderm Forte

Why it works:

Contains alpha hydroxy acids (to promote skin regeneration and turnover), glycolic acid (to promote exfoliation), lactic acids (removes dead skin cells) and caprylic triglycerides (to gently moisturize).
The combination of lactic and glycolic acid makes this moisturizer act more like a cleanser than a true moisturizer, but this extra step may be very beneficial for older more mature skin.

How to use it:

Should be used in the AM (not the PM) and after cleansing, toning and the application of the Clear FX.
This product adds another layer of complexity to the Obagi system but may not be necessary for every person.
This product comes in two forms: Exfoderm Forte and Exfoderm -> the exfoderm forte is designed for people who have oily skin, whereas the exfoderm should be used for those with normal to dry skin types.

Use exfoderm forte if you have oily or acneic skin at baseline.

Use this exfoderm if you have normal to dry skin at baseline.

Step #5: Nu Derm Blend Fx

Step 5 of the Obagi nu derm system is the Nu Derm Blend Fx and it might be one of my more favorite products in this line up.

Why?

Because it’s a skin lightening agent but it’s designed to be blended together with Obagi retinol products for a huge boost to skin quality and texture.

The only downside to this system is that it does NOT come with the retinol product (which means you need to purchase it separately).

The blender is literally meant to be blended with the retinol product.

That means you take a small amount of the Blend fx in your hand, and mix it with another small amount of the Obagi retinol product and rub them together.

You then place THAT mixture on your face in the evening.

The two vitamins and nutrients (Arbutin plus retinol) have synergistic properties that helps smooth out your skin, even skin tones, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and help naturally brighten your skin.

I have gone over an in depth review of Obagi retinol products that you can read more about here (remember this is intended to be used WITH the blend fx).

As you may have noticed both the Obagi clear fx and the obagi blend fx have similar ingredients.

This means not EVERYONE will need BOTH of these products (in fact I will go over who should use both and who shouldn’t below):

Overview of Nu Derm Blend Fx

Why it works:

Ingredients include: Arbutin (designed to naturally help brighten your skin), Lactic acid (to help exfoliate and improve skin texture and pore size), Vitamin C & Vitamin E (to help act as anti-oxidants and further improve skin texture)
This combination helps to naturally brighten your skin while helping to exfoliate the epidermal layer of the skin and provide defense against oxidation and sun damage.
Intended to be “blended” and mixed together with Obagi retinol which will dramatically reduce the signs of aging and improve your skin (Obagi Retinol products do NOT come in the nu derm system and must be purchased separately).

How to use it:

The blender should be used in the PM only – this will enhance results and improve absorption (Retinol products should be used in the pm)
Combine a small amount of blender with Obagi retinol and mix both creams in your hand before applying to your face and neck -> you can also apply the mixture to the back of your hands and upper chest area (anywhere with age spots).
*Note: Not everyone will need BOTH the clear fx and the blend fx as they both have Arbutin (skin brightening agent). You may benefit from using both of these if you have severe hyperpigmentation issues or difficult to treat melasma, age spots or sun damage.

Step #6: Nu Derm Hydrate

The final step in the 6 step process is the moisturizing step.

Unlike the previous moisturizer (which acts more as an exfolitator) this moisturizuer does exactly what it is supposed to do: help maintain normal skin barrier and hydrate the skin.

One of the main benefits to using Obagi hydrate is that it contains a special ingredient known as hydromanil.

Hydromanil has been clinically shown to maintain hydration in the skin by creating a barrier which prevents moisture from escaping.

What’s more impressive is that this hydration lasts for up to 8 hours (which is a long time as far as moisturizers go).

Hydromanil also helps to create a “plumpness” to the skin which is why the Obagi line is so effective for anti-aging.

Overview of Nu Derm Hydrate

Why it works:

Contains ingredients including: Hydromanil (designed to reduce water loss through the skin), Shea, Avocado and Mango butter (designed to both cleanse and moisturize the skin).

How to use it:

Designed to be used in the AM and the PM -> should be the last “layer” of your system
Can be used for oily skin, dry skin, combination skin and acneic skin.
If you have oily skin then only use once per day (or reduce the total amount you use).

Do you need the complete set for optimal results?

Now that we’ve gone over each step of this 6 step system the next question we need to answer is this:

Do you actually need to you ALL of the 6 steps?

In my opinion you don’t necessarily have to unless your PRIMARY goal is to reduce the aging process and make your skin look 5-10 years younger OR if you suffer from hyperpigmentation syndromes.

If this is your mail goal then YES, you should use this entire system.

Why?

Because it was designed with this purpose in mind.

But what if you are in your 20’s or 30’s and you just want better looking skin?

What then?

For those women who are younger and aren’t AS concerned about the aging process then you can mix and match products to make the perfect set for you.

I recommend (and personally use) a system that looks something like this:

Step #1: Obagi gentle cleanser (you can use the foaming gel if you have oily skin)
Step #2: Obagi Toner (everyone needs both a cleanser AND a toner)
Step #3: Combination of Blender + Obagi Retinol containing product
Step #4: Vitamin C Serum (iS clinical or obagi)
Step #5: Obagi Moisturizer (depending on how much oil your skin produces)

This combination helps you cut out several steps in the system that are designed to further enhance and lighten the skin.

Who should use the Obagi Nu Derm system

If you aren’t sure if you should use this system (either the entire system or piece together your own regimen) then use these guidelines to help.

If you suffer from ANY of the following issues then a trial of the Obagi nu derm system would be a good idea:

You have tried other facial products (usually cheaper products) that didn’t work or help your skin in any noticeable way.
You suffer from mild to moderate acne and traditional over the counter facial products aren’t working.
You’ve noticed the beginning stages of aging (wrinkles around the eyes or around your lips) and you want to get a HEAD start at reversing those signs.
You have MATURE skin and you are serious about taking care of your skin from here on out.
You are in your 40’s to 50’s and you want to look 5-10 years younger (I can’t think of any better product system than this one for anti aging purposes).
You suffer from uneven skin tones or hyperpigmentation syndromes like melasma.

Obagi Nu Derm Before & After Pictures

Does the Obagi nu derm system actually work?

The answer is definitely, as you can see from the images below.

It’s worth pointing out that these before and after pictures were taken with the Nu derm system but in combination with Obagi retinol.

Remember that the nu derm system doesn’t include the Retinol products as baseline, which means that you will have to add this to your regimen.

I have to say that the addition of this product is essential if you are serious about your results.

If you don’t want to purchase the entire system then you can go back up to the previous section and see my abbreviated version.

How to get Obagi Skin care products online safely

One of the big issues with getting Obagi products is that there are (used to be) a lot of fake and counterfeit products on the internet.

The cheaper prices lead people to purchase low quality knock offs that didn’t contain the REAL obagi ingredients.

This lead obviously to a lot of distrust from online purchasing which left people to get their products from medical professionals if they wanted to get the real deal.

All you need to do is make sure you see either “Professional Beauty” or “Luxury Beauty” underneath the price tag to know you are getting the real deal.

Of course, all of the products listed in this guide ARE high quality AND the heal deal.

Obagi Nu derm vs Obagi 360

Obagi also has a starter pack known as the Obagi 360 system.

This system is like a watered down Obagi nu derm system which contains only 3 products:

Exfoliating cleanser
High quality retinol product
And Hydrating moisturizer

The Obagi 360 system does NOT include the blender (to brighten the skin), Vitamin C serum or a Toner (which I consider to be an integral part of any complete skin care system).

Having said that the Obagi 360 system may be beneficial for certain people.

Who should try the Obagi 360 system over the Obagi nu derm system?

If you have NEVER used Obagi products before and are a little bit nervous about spending a lot of money on high quality products then purchasing this mini system may be the best FIRST step for you.

That way you can dip your toes in the water to try out their products before purchasing the bigger more comprehensive package.

I have to say that your results will be limited if you use the Obagi 360 system but you should definitely still see some improvement.

After you’ve tried the 360 system you can then move to the Nu derm system (based on your needs).

Back to you

The bottom line?

The Obagi nu derm system is a 6 step comprehensive system that is designed to completely change and revamp your skin.

Each step is designed with a specific purpose ranging from exfoliating dead epidermal skin cells, maintaining the acid mantle, whitening and brightening your skin to reducing the aging process by 5-10 years.

Having said that the complete Obagi nu derm system isn’t necessarily for every person.

People who do the best on the entire system include those who are serious about anti-aging therapies and those with hyperpigmentation syndromes.

If you don’t fall into those categories then you can mix and match the Obagi system to compliment your skin perfectly!

Now it’s your turn:

Have you used the Obagi nu derm system before?

Did it work for you?

Why or why not?

Leave your comments below!

Obagi Retinol Review – How & Why you should use it

Retinol is an amazing skin product that has been proven in studies to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Everybody knows that which is why retinol products are becoming more and more common.

But what you might not realize is that in order to get the benefits of retinol you must be using a high enough concentration in a high quality product!

That’s where Obagi retinol steps in.

In this Obagi retinol review I will walk you through why you should seriously consider adding this product (or another retinol containing product) to your daily regimen…

Benefits of using Retinol

In terms of creams and lotions that actually work, retinol competes with Vitamin c for the best facial product of all time.

Why?

Because unlike other facial products, retinol has been battled tested through clinical research studies over many years.

It’s one of, if not the most, well studied product and it has been clinically proven in several studies to reduce the signs of aging.

It turns out that in order to get the benefits of using Retinol the product must be formulated correctly.

For instance:

It has been shown that retinoic acid causes considerably more side effects than retinol.

Even though these are both Vitamin A products, their absorption and side effects differ greatly.

That’s one of the reasons why Obagi is ahead of the curve…

Their formulations are trusted by Dermatologists and Plastic surgeons because their products are well researched and have been shown to work.

So how does Retinol work on the skin?

It works through several mechanisms, but one of the most powerful is felt to be how it increases skin turnover time.

You see:

Your skin is constantly producing more skin in the epidermal layer. This is one of the reasons why exofliating your skin is so important.

New skin grows underneath old skin which pushes the dead skin to the surface.

This dead skin can sometimes stay on longer than normal and creates several negative side effects like increasing your risk for developing clogged pores and making your skin look dull or uneven.

This process is constantly happening and your skin turns over every 50-60 days or so.

Retinol speeds up this process and reduces it to around 21-28 days if used at high enough dosages!

That means it makes your epidermal layer thinner which increases the absorption of other facial products and improves your skin texture (making you look younger).

But beyond its effects on aging it also helps benefit your skin in several other ways.

Increases collagen production in the papillary dermis
Reduces photodamage(helping to make you look younger than your current age)
Increases epidermal skin turnover time
Helps treat acne
Reduces sebum production(makes your skin less oily)
Prevents sun damage by blocking UV induced activation of nuclear transcription factors
Increases blood flow(angiogenesis)to the papillary dermis(making your skin look more “plump”)
Reduces inflammation and inflammatory conditions like acne and rosacea

Most women (including me) use retinol because they want their skin to look younger and that’s perfectly fine.

Bottom line: Retinol helps benefit the skin by reducing the aging process, protecting against photodamage/sun damage and by increasing blood flow to the deeper layers of the skin. Retinol should be part of your skin care regimen if you are serious about looking younger.

Prescription Tretinion vs OTC Obagi Retinol

What’s the difference between tretinoin and retinol?

You probably know that you can get a prescription for tretinoin in various dosages from your Doctor (usually a plastic surgeon or dermatologist), but how is this different from retinol?

It turns out that due to various laws only certain concentrations of retinol are allowed in over the counter products.

What this means is that prescription medications contain higher quantities of retin-a or tretinoin (retinol).

This is important because all of the studies I’ve listed above were conducted using this HIGH concentration of retinol.

What does this mean for you?

It means that over the counter products can claim to have “retinol” in them, but they don’t have to list the concentration in their formulation!

As a result many cheaper products put just a tiny amount of retinol in a product and slap on an anti-aging label and sell it as a product that’s supposed to be as good as Obagi or iS clinical products.

This couldn’t be farther from the truth and is why you have to make sure you purchase from a high quality brand.

One of the benefits of using Obagi products is that they are formulated at the concentrations required for optimal results.

For instance the concentration of the Obagi 1.0 is 0.1% (which is a prescription strength dose).

The Obagi retinol 0.5 is 0.05% concentration (again another prescription dose).

Obagi can do this because it requires a medical license to purchase their products which means you get pharmaceutical strength dosages if you use obagi products, including Obagi retinol.

This also means that the Obagi retinol may have some side effects that you need to watch out for because it’s quite potent (more on that below).

Another advantage of getting Obagi retinol over prescription tretinoin is that they put less inactive ingredients in their formulation which makes the product BETTER for your skin.

So just because you can get tretinoin at the same concentration from a pharmacy doesn’t necessarily mean you will want to.

Consider these factors before getting prescription tretinoin from your pharmacy:

PROS

Works well and contains high quality active ingredient (tretinion)
Confidence in knowing you are getting the right concentration from the pharmacy
Can be compounded with other medications like hydroquinone to help with hyperpigmentation or melasma

CONS

No control over fillers or inactive ingredients
Requires Doctor visit and prescription which increases cost
May be too strong for some people
Inability to change dosing easily

How to use Obagi Retinol Correctly

So we know that Retinol definitely works, but what about Obagi retinol products?

Luckily Obagi products have been tested in satisfaction trials and the results are impressive.

In a 3 week trial people using the Retinol 1.0% Obagi product people noticed the following:

Very little issues with erythema (which means redness) or dryness of the skin versus the baseline (where they started from)
No flaking of the skin at any point during the study

This basically means that Obagi products are well tolerated – and this is important because as we mentioned previously retinol products can be powerful and one of the concerns is redness, flaking or dryness that can occur at higher doses.

In addition to these benefits people using Obagi retinol for 3 weeks also noticed:

90% saw an improvement in facial appearance
88% said that their skin was more resilient
88% would purchase the product again
88% would recommend the product to a friend

Obviously these results are not perfect, but when it comes to your skin there is no perfect product that works for EVERYONE out there. ]

But Obagi retinol has about a 9 in 10 chance of working for you (which is pretty darn good all things considered).

In order to get these kind of benefits the product must be used correctly, however, which is what I will outline below:

Obagi Retinol 0.5 & 1.0 Review

Overall rating:

Overall Quality

Very high quality product that comes in different concentrations

Price

Higher price but comparable when compared to prescription tretinoin

Why I Love it

Works very well with about a 90% success rate among all people

Who should use it:

Ingredients:

Anyone looking to have younger looking skin (this is one of the best anti-aging skin care products)
People with mild to moderate acne
People looking to improve their skin texture
People (especially women) with early signs of wrinkles around the eyes or around the corners of the mouth
People with oily skin looking to reduce sebum production
People also undergoing laser therapies, microdermabrasion, microneedling or microdermabrasion

Retinol 0.5% or 1.0% (depending on which concentration and strength you choose)
Green tea extract (camellia sinensis)
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)

How to use it:

Once a day apply a pearl sized amount to your fingers then spread evening throughout your entire face and neck (avoid your eyes)
Make sure to apply product in the evening
If you experience dryness, redness or flaking then use every other day until your skin acclimates

Recommended product:

Obagi 0.5% (start here if you’ve never used Retinol products before)

Obagi 1.0% (start here if you have used retinol products in the past and/or you don’t have sensitive skin)

Quick NavigationOver the Counter Wrinkle Fillers vs Dermal Fillers PROS CONS PROS CONS The Best Wrinkle Fillers of 2017 #1. iS Clinical Youth Complex with Innovase #2. Meaningful Beauty Ultra Lifting and Filling Treatment #3. Obagi Hydrate Luxe Moisture-Rich Cream #4. Obagi Professional-C Serum Wrinkle Fillers to AVOID RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Filler Other Strategies to Look Younger Back to you

Side effects of using Retinol

Now that you know why you should be using it, we should spend some time talking about any potential issues that might arise when using retinol (this applies to Obagi retinol but also applies to retinol products in general).

First you need to realize that retinol is a Vitamin A derivative and is a powerful vitamin for your skin.

Because it’s powerful, and if not used correctly, some patients may experience some minor side effects – these side effects can be treated easily, which we will explain below, but let’s talk about what to look out for:

Redness (one of the most common symptoms and an indication that you might be using too high a dose)
Flaking of the skin or peeling (another common symptom indicating your dose may be too strong)
Slight break outs (happens only upon starting retinol in some people)
Rash (very rare, usually related to inactive ingredients and not retinol itself)

What’s important is that these side effects do not necessarily indicate that you need to stop using retinol.

Instead they are usually caused by using a concentration that is too strong for your skin, or it simply means that you need to start out lower and increase your concentration slowly over time.

Luckily these symptoms (if you do experience them) will go away over a few weeks if you back down on the concentration or use the your retinol less frequently.

If you do experience these symptoms the best thing you can do is one of the following:

Purchase a lower concentration retinol (don’t worry, you will be able to use the stronger concentration later so you won’t waste your original purchase)
Apply your retinol every other day, instead of daily (you may need to use every third day, etc.)
Don’t change your retinol product and instead allow up to 2-3 weeks for your body to acclimate to the concentration – and just deal with some minor flaking or redness

By using these strategies you will be able to handle pretty much any of the side effects associated with retinol.

But remember:

Most people don’t even have these side effects if they use a high quality product!

Retinol 0.5 vs 1.0

This Obagi retinol comes in two different concentrations and it’s important to understand them so you know which one you should start with.

The ONLY difference between these two products is the concentration of the retinol it contains.

Your goal should be to get up to the 1.0% dose if possible (most of you will be able to get there).

But in some cases you may have to start out on the 0.5% dose first.

Who should start with Obagi Retinol 0.5%

Those with VERY sensitive skin (Fitzpatrick type I and II)
Those who have never used Retinol containing products in the past
Those who have used retinol or tretinoin in the past but who reacted with redness or dry skin

Who should start with Obagi Retinol 1.0%

Those people who have used retinol or tretinion in the past without any issues
Those with more resilient skin and those who don’t react to ingredients in skin care products
Those with extreme photodamage or advanced signs of aging (wrinkles or thickened leathery skin)
Those with a history of using tanning beds frequently in the past
Those people who have used Obagi retinol products in the past (or other retinol products from high quality brands like iS clinical)

If you stick to these guidelines then you shouldn’t have any issues regarding reacting to the retinol.

Also, remember that Obagi products are formulated with other active ingredients like Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) designed to help your skin tolerate the retinol and increase absorption.

Complete Obagi Retinol Ingredient list

If you have any concern that you might react to the ingredients found in this product then please see the ingredient list below:

Shea butter
Jojoba
Hyaluronic acid
Vitamin A (retinol)
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Dimethicone
Vitamin E

Obagi retinol has been shown to help people with the following skin types:

Sensitive skin (those who react to skin care products)
Oil prone skin (those with naturally oily skin)
Acneic skin (those prone to developing acne or those with active acne breakouts)
Mature skin (those over 50+, usually after menopause)
Combination skin types (those with a combination of skin types)
Dry skin
Normal skin
Hyperpigmented skin (those with uneven skin tone or those with hyperpigmentation syndromes like melasma)

Over to you

Obagi retinol can seriously make a difference in your skin care regimen.

If you haven’t tried high quality retinol containing products then you should consider a trial run of obagi retinol.

The benefits of using retinol range from a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles to an reduction sun damage from years spent in the sun.

Regardless of your age or skin type retinol containing products CAN work for you.

Now it’s your turn:

Have you used Obagi retinol in the past?

Did it work for you? Why or why not?

Leave your comment below!

Obagi C Serum Review – The Best Vitamin C Serum on the Market?

Are you thinking about buying Obagi C serum?

Vitamin C serum in general has the ability to provide so many benefits to your skin and might just be one of the single best serums out there.

Why?

Because Vitamin C serum helps slow down and reverse the aging process, helps improve the texture of your skin, even skin tones and much more…

It also turns out that Obagi has one of the best Vitamin C serums on the market.

More…

Obagi Professional C Serum – Does it work?

One of the big problems with cosmetic products is that you never know if you are getting high quality ingredients or if the product will work.

With Obagi products, you really don’t have to worry about that.

Why?

Because Obagi is a brand trusted by plastic surgeons and dermatologists and their products are formulated by Doctors.

And that’s actually important, especially in the case of Vitamin C serum.

It turns out that Vitamin C serum might be one of the best nutrients you can put on your skin, BUT (and this is a big but) in order to get the benefits of Vitamin C serum it must be formulated correctly.

That means your Vitamin c serum needs to have the following:

The Vitamin C must be in the L-Asorbic acid form
The pH of the serum must be 3.5
Vitamin C must be protected and shielded from light and oxidation
The Vitamin C must be in a high enough concentration (at least 10%, but preferably 20%)
It can be formulated in a carrier that contains other vitamins to help increase absorption into the skin

This explains why some Vitamin C serums are more expensive than others.

It takes a LOT of time and energy to formulate the product in the right way so that it actually works.

Cheaper Vitamin C serum products skip out on necessary steps to make their product cheaper, but as a consequence they simply don’t work as well.

So does Obagi fit the bill and meet all of these requirements?

Yep, it sure does.

You can see some consumer studies below showing the benefits of Obagi C serum (in this case the 20% concentration):

One of the big problems with using Vitamin C serum is knowing if it’s actually being absorbed through the skin.

You might not think about it, but your skin acts as a barrier to creams, lotions, water, etc.

So, in order to get the Vitamin C INTO your skin, it must be formulated correctly.

Obagi went head to head with another brand Skinceuticals to see which product was absorbed based on testing of the concentration of Vitamin C in the epiderms.

The results showed that Obagi had superior concentration reaching a total concentration of 333 ug vs the 238 ug of Skinceuticals.

This means that you can use LESS of the obagi Vitamin C serum and still get lasting results (making your Vitamin C serum last longer!).

In addition Obagi also went head to head with skinceuticals to see how much was absorbed into the skin 19 hours after application.

The results showed that Obagi had about 5x the absorption of Skinceuticals 19 hours after application:

This is a big deal because your body can’t create Vitamin C naturally which means it’s dependent upon serums or food to increase levels.

Sustained levels of Vitamin c throughout the day mean your skin will look better long term.

But those aren’t all the benefits of Vitamin C serum:

6 Reasons to Add Vitamin C Serum to your Regimen

Beyond what we’ve discussed, Vitamin C serum also has several other VERY attractive benefits.

Real benefits of using Vitamin C Serums:

Prevents photo damage
Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
Increased collagen and elastin production
Evens skin tone and complexion
Reduces break outs and can treat acne
Acts as an anti-aging therapy

One of the most important benefits of using Vitamin C serum is the benefit it has on photodamage.

Why is this important?

Because the amount of photodamage accumulated throughout your life helps, in part, to determine how OLD you look!

You can see from studies that sun damage (even just 3%) can make you look 3 years older than your stated age.

This also means that if you reverse the photodamage of your skin by using Vitamin C serum you can make yourself look younger than your stated age:

What’s even better is that Vitamin C serum also helps promote collagen and elastin formation in the dermis of your skin.

These both work in part to keep your skin looking plump and reduce fine lines and wrinkles in your skin – AKA keep you looking younger.

My personal favorite benefit, and the main reason I use Vitamin C serum daily, is that it makes my skin look soft and evens out the skin tone.

You can find all of the benefits of Vitamin C serum in this post.

One of the benefits of using Obagi Vitamin C serum is that you know you are getting a high quality Vitamin C serum that has been shown to penetrate deep enough into the skin to help with these benefits.

Remember that not all Vitamin C serums will help you in this way! They MUST be formulated correctly (read the guidelines above again).

How to use Obagi Vitamin C Serum

In order to get the benefits listed above you must use your Vitamin C correctly.

One thing you need to watch out for with Vitamin C serum is that it is oxidized and becomes inactive if left in the light (meaning it is photosensitive).

Because of this you have to take care when applying your Vitamin C.

What this means for you is that you want to store your Vitamin C serum in a place where light doesn’t touch it (think in a drawer).

You also want to make sure whoever formulated your Vitamin C serum put it in a dark container that doesn’t allow light to get through (Obagi takes care of this for you).

It’s also important to apply your Vitamin C at NIGHT!

Applying it at night allows for superior absorption and will actually act as a minor sunscreen during the daytime hours.

Applying it in the morning may cause some oxidation throughout the day and slightly inactive the product – so I always recommend using it at night.

Obagi Professional-C Serum Review

Overall rating:

Overall Quality

Contains high concentrations of L-ascorbic acid but no other ingredients

Price

High price, but high quality

Why I Love it

Definitely works but may be better for women older than 40 or women with oily skin

Who should use it:

Ingredients:

Woman between the ages of 30-60
Women and men with oily skin
Women with photo damage or extreme sun damage (those that are trying to look younger)
People who have done well on other obagi products in the past

L-Ascorbic acid 20% (active ingredient)
prpylene glyccol (inactive)
Zinc chloride (inactive)
Calcium hydroxide (inactive)

How to use it:

Why it works

Apply 5-7 drops directly to your face after cleansing
Spread evening throughout your face and to your neck line
Use in the evening
Make sure product is protected form the sun while storing
If you have sensitive skin start with 10% or 15% and work yourself up to the 20% concentration

Contains 20% Vitamin C which promotes collagen production and stimulates growth in the skin to even skin tones

How to get Obagi Products Online

Traditionally Obagi products were only available to physicians like Dermatologists and Plastic surgeons.

Unfortunately this created a scenario where people thought they were getting Obagi products but they were really getting fraudulent products that did NOT have the stated ingredients.

This also mean that previously you had to go to your Doctors office (medical spa or dermatologist office) to buy the Obagi products.

So in addition to buying the product you were often hit with the consulting price of the Doctor!

Fortunately this has changed.

The way to tell if the product you are about to purchase is high quality and authentic is with the branding below the price tag.

High quality and real products will be labeled as either “Professional Beauty” or as “Luxury Beauty”.

Concentration: 10% vs 15% vs 20%

The next big question you need to ask yourself is this:

What percentage of Vitamin C serum should I start with?

Because Obagi understands how Vitamin C works on the skin they have created several concentrations to help your body adjust.

The 20% concentration is the highest absolute concentration of Ascorbic acid that can be effectively absorbed into the skin, but there’s one problem:

That concentration can sometimes be too much for certain people.

It may result in some redness or flaking of the skin unless you are already used to higher concentrations of Vitamin C or if you have tough skin.

So should you start with a lower concentration?

My rule of thumb is to start with the 10% concentration of Vitamin C IF you are a very sensitive person or have a VERY light skin tone (think very fair, red hair, etc.).

If you have normal skin tone, normal oil production, etc. then 1 bottle of the 15% is a great place to start because it will allow your body to adjust and you will still get results.

If you have tough skin and tend to tolerate pretty much anything touching your skin then you should be safe to start with the 20% concentration right off the bat.

If you purchase the 20% and it turns out to be too strong for you, you can also go to an every other day application schedule which will not be as harsh on your skin and will prevent you from having to purchase a lower quality strength.

When I first started out using Vitamin c serum I jumped to the 20% concentration and tolerate it just fine (some red spots came up for about 5 days but went away over time).

Side Effects of using Obagi Professional C

Next up on the list is side effects.

Shouldn’t Vitamin C cause some serious side effects if it’s so beneficial?

Actually it turns out that Vitamin C serum is tolerated quite well.

Rarely do some people experience some negative side effects, but this is usually because they are using a cheap product or because they have sensitive skin and started out at the 20% concentration.

So with that in mind let’s talk about side effects of Obagi C serum:

Redness or rash around the nose area (occurs with a high concentration and generally goes away if you reduce concentration or application frequency)
Dryness of the skin (occurs when starting out with a high concentration and fades over a couple of weeks, if this occurs then go to an every other day application cycle)
Yellow tint to your skin (goes away over time)

And that’s pretty much it!

Wrapping it up

Obagi professional C serum is one of the best Vitamin C serums on the market.

In head to head comparison trials Obagi comes out on top in terms of depth of absorption and in terms of absorption concentration – especially against skinceutical products.

Because the benefits of Vitamin C are amazing, I encourage pretty much any woman to try Vitamin C serum (from a high quality brand).

Have you used Obagi products in the past?

Did they work for you? Why or why not?

Leave your comment below!

How Vitamin C Serum Benefits your Skin & Reverses the Aging Process

The Best Wrinkle Fillers For Women that Actually Work (2018 Edition)

It IS possible to turn back the clock and reverse the signs of aging.

All it takes is the right knowledge and the right application of certain high quality products (and some other changes) to get it right.

In this guide I will walk you through the best wrinkle fillers of 2017 that actually work to reduce those fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin and “sun spots”.

Let’s dive in:

More…

Are Wrinkle Fillers Too Good to be True?

Wrinkles…

It’s something every single one of us will have to deal with at some point in our lives.

But what if we could do something about it?

What if you could SLOW down the aging process and turn back the clock 5, 10 or 15 years?

Thanks to some amazing science and some very high quality products, that dream can now become a reality.

So to answer the question:

Are wrinkle fillers too good to be true?

The answer is definitely a resounding NO.

Wrinkle fillers can actually work, but you have to use the right ones that are both high in quality and contain enough of the active ingredients to help your skin.

To understand how these special creams and fillers can help with your wrinkles we need to understand WHY we have wrinkles in the first place.

And this is where things get interesting…

It’s estimated that 90% of the signs of aging and getting older can be attributed to one thing:

Sun damage (otherwise known as photodamage).

The dermatologists like to refer to it as photodamage so we will too.

Photodamage results in several changes that make your skin look older:

Loss of subcutaneous tissues and fat which leads to “sagging”
Breakdown in collagen which leads to uneven texture resulting in wrinkles
Damage resulting in changes to melanin which causes dark spots or hyperpigmentation in certain areas
Disordered stratum corneum (top layer of the skin) which is normally well organzied, this changes the “texture” and “quality” of your skin

To illustrate this point I have included the various stages of aging as it relates to sun damage below:

You can clearly see the decline in the subcutaneous tissue, the addition of wrinkles, the change in tissue texture and the alteration in the skin tone as you progress from grade 1 through 8.

What’s even more interesting is that much of this damage can occur simply due to sun damage, not necessarily just from age.

In fact studies have shown that a higher percentage of sun damage will actually make you look older!

This graph easily outlines what happens with chronic sun exposure.

You can see that with just a small amount of sun exposure (in this case about 3-5%) a woman will look 3 years older.

On the flip side, a reduction in sun exposure by 3-5% will make a woman look 3 years YOUNGER.

Bingo.

Now we are talking and this gives us a way to reverse the clock.

If we focus on healing photo damage, reducing sun exposure and by “plumping” up the skin we can create a serum that actually reverses the aging process.

And that’s exactly how these wrinkle fillers work.

They actually reverse sun damage and provide the right nutrients to help regrow your collagen (more on that later).

Is photo damage the only cause of aging?

Not so fast.

There are also many other factors that attribute to that last 10%…

Other factors that lead to rapid aging and wrinkles:

Smoking
Genetics
Pollution
Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies
Illness
Chronic medical conditions
Hormone imbalances (and menopause)
And even some medications

I’ve included these here just to make sure you know about them. Because if you are still smoking, or not taking any hair skin or nails vitamins then you need to get on top of those ASAP.

The wrinkle fillers we are going to talk about definitely work, but they are better if they are used as part of a whole treatment plan that includes a healthy diet, serums, lots of water and some vitamins.

Over the Counter Wrinkle Fillers vs Dermal Fillers

We also need to spend a quick minute talking about dermal fillers and about over the counter wrinkle fillers.

Over the counter wrinkle fillers work by changing the STRUCTURE of your skin.

They help your skin to naturally regrow and reverse the signs of aging by using special ingredients, vitamins and serums.

Dermal fillers, on the other hand, work by simply adding in a collagen like substance straight into certain areas of your face.

They are synthetically created and then injected under the skin to provide immediate results.

So…

Which kind of treatment should you get?

I’m a fan of using the all natural approach because it’s more healthy, but I also understand the need for some people to use the fillers.

It’s also a good idea to consider using BOTH at the same time, because you will get the best bang for your buck and you will get immediate results.

OTC Wrinkle Fillers benefits:

PROS

Help treat the underlying CAUSE of wrinkles and aging
Are natural and contain natural ingredients
Can be used long term
Don’t require a procedure to use
Will also help nourish the skin and treat other problems like acne

CONS

Take weeks to take effect
May be expensive to get the right ingredients at the right dose
Must be used daily for best results
Some people may not tolerate ingredients (may get a rash, etc.)

Dermal fillers benefits:

PROS

You get Immediate results
May potentially help you look younger than using serums alone
Can be combined with serums to achieve LONG TERM and lasting effects

CONS

Not necessarily natural approach
Will fade over time (usually 6 to 18 months)
Requires a small procedure that may be painful
The procedure is expensive
Results depend on the person doing the procedure

One is not necessarily better than the other.

Because of that make sure you take a long look at the pros and cons and determine which will be best for YOUR body.

If you’ve decided to at least learn more about the serums (great choice!) then continue reading and we will go over which ones ACTUALLY work.

The Best Wrinkle Fillers of 2017

If you want to find a wrinkle filler that works you need to look for some special ingredients.

Why?

Because only certain ingredients (and certain volumes) help to reverse the signs of aging and get rid of those wrinkles.

One of the most beneficial anti-aging ingredients is high quality Vitamin C.

Vitamin C in the L-ascorbic acid form at 20% concentration and at a pH of 3.5 has been clinically proven to reduce those wrinkles.

In addition to Vitamin C high quality anti oxidants and anti inflammatory agents (like olive oil extract, Vitamin C + E) can help reduce DNA damage from the sun.

Other products contain specialized galactomannans that have been shown to help your skin absorb and retain moisture to provide a “plump” look.

Right up there in terms of importance is Retinol.

Retinol is a form of Vitamin A (which can be used along with Vitamin C) can has been shown to increase collagen production in the skin and even out skin tones.

As you can see there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach to reducing your wrinkles.

But rest assured that ALL of the products listed below contain the all important ingredients listed above in high enough dosages to help provide the anti-aging look you are searching for.

If you see Professional Beauty or Luxury Beauty you can rest assured that you are getting the REAL deal, not some knock off product.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s jump into my favorite products:

#1. iS Clinical Youth Complex with Innovase

Overall rating:

Overall Quality

High quality with studied ingredients and science to back it up

Price

Price is higher than other brands

Personal Rating

I personally use this product but do switch between other products on occasion

Who should use it:

Ingredients:

Anyone over the age of 35 who is also noticing subtle changes to their skin like sagging, fine lines, wrinkles or a lack of moisture
The earlier you start using a product like this the better, so get started BEFORE the wrinkles start to appear!

White Willow Bark Extract (shown to reduce the signs of aging) also helps to exfoliate the epidermis and reduce pore size
Copper tripeptide Growth Factor (helps promote skin growth and can visibly help reduce wrinkles if used over time)
Hyaluronic acid (helps increase moisture)
Mixed fruit acid extracts to help reduce inflammation and oxidation

How to use it:

Why it works

Must be applied to the face and neck each day, works best if combined with high quality Vitamin C serum + moisturizer

Natural anti inflammatory agents help to reduce inflammation while growth factors help regenerate skin and even out collagen – the end result is a reduction in wrinkles over time

Recommended product:

If you are looking for a product to apply to your entire face and neck area then use this one:

If you are looking for a product directly for the eyes and “crows feet” then use this product:

I’ve found that woman over the age of 40 tend to do better with this particular brand.

If you are younger than 40, or have very oily skin, then the other preparations listed below will likely serve you better.

Next up is a product from meaningful beauty and endorsed by Cindy Crawford.

I generally tend to avoid products with celebrity endorsements, but if they work they work.

And this product tends to work well for a certain sub group of people.

Namely:

Younger women under the age of 40 with oily skin.

Reviews for this product are very positive, but like all products you want to make sure you are getting the REAL DEAL!

Most of the poor reviews you see out there come from people who received the fake product.

Another interesting fact is that in a 12-week consumer perception study (not the best study I know) the vast majority of people who used the Ultra lifting and filling treatment experienced several benefits including:

93% saw skin that looked significantly firmer, tighter and more lifted
96% reported that their skin looked younger visually
100% said their skin appeared more luminous and looked more “plump”

While this isn’t necessarily hard data, it’s always helpful to know that products help the majority of people that use them.

It’s also important to realize that simply by increasing moisture in your skin you can also reduce some fine lines and wrinkles.

#2. Meaningful Beauty Ultra Lifting and Filling Treatment

Overall rating:

Overall Quality

High quality with high quality ingredients

Price

Great price and value for ingredients

Personal Rating

Not my favorite but has worked well for my friends

Who should use it:

Ingredients:

I find this product works best for women under 40 with oily skin who are noticing a small amount of winkles/changes to their skin who want to PREVENT further issues form arising
If you have heavy photodamage then you will need to use a stronger product or combine this with Vitamin C serum

Microencapsulated melon complex (powerful anti inflammatory agent)
Hyaluronic acid
Vitamin C
Glycerin

How to use it:

Why it works

Can be applied to the face, neck and chest
Should be used daily in the morning AFTER cleansing (apply to all areas in need)

Anti inflammatory agents help prevent future sun damage
Vitamin C helps even skin tone and promote collagen production
Glycerin helps to promote moisture while Hyaluronic acid helps reduce pore size

Recommended product:

As you’ve probably noticed each product has a slightly different design and way to help reduce wrinkles.

This next product isn’t different.

Instead of focusing on regrowth of collagen it promotes an increase in epidermal moisture resulting in more “plump” skin that “fills out” the existing wrinkles.

The benefit to using this kind of approach is that it works VERY quickly and results are seen within a few weeks.

I’ve included it here because the combination of this hydration product plus Professional-C (also by Obagi) is something I used for a long time and it works well.

#3. Obagi Hydrate Luxe Moisture-Rich Cream

Overall rating:

Overall Quality

Very high quality (Obagi products are used in dermatology & plastic surgery offices)

Price

The price is higher, but in this case you get what you pay for

Personal Rating

Can be used with other facial creams and products

Who should use it:

Ingredients:

People with photo damage, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation due to sun damage AND with loose or sagging skin
Best if used in combination with Vitamin C + other youth serums to help moisturize and hydrate skin

Hydromanil
Glycerin
Mango, Shea and Avocado

How to use it:

Why it works

Apply a small dab to your face in the evening (use after toner and cleanser)
If using Vitamin C serum, place this moisturizer on your face before you apply serum

Hydromanil has been clinically shown to increase the moisture and “plump” up the skin
Contains galactomannans which improve moisture in the stratum corneum
Glycerin allows the epidermal skin cells to absorb and retain more water
Natural ingredients like Mango, Shea and Avocado help reduce inflammation and repair the skin with anti oxidants

Recommended product:

Use this product if you want to improve the texture and quality of your entire face:

If you are interested in just the eye area or around your “frown” lines then this product is better: